Picnic carrier



y 6, 1954 R. E. VAN ROSEN ET AL 2,682,988

PICNIC CARRIER Filed NOV. 27, 1951 v 3 Sheets-Sheet l I V 19 I 3nventors.

J y 1954 R. E. VAN ROSEN ET AL 8 PICNIC CARRIER Filed Nov. 27, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 6,.1954

R. E. VAN ROSEN ET AL- PICNIC CARRIER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed NOV. 27, 1951 2 r. L 5 2 W a 5x2 3 m J Q Q Patented July 6, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT PICNIC CARRIER "Robert E. Van'R-osen, Middletown, Ohio, and William A. Ringler, Wayne, Pa., assignors to The LGardneriBoardeand Carton 00., Middletown,

Ohio, a corporation of, Ohio Application November 27, 1951, Serial No; 258,394

7 8 Claims.

Our invention relates to-=apaperboard carrier in which a plurality ofbottles may be carried in iced condition. In particular, our invention-relates to a portablepaperboardstructure into which a plurality of bottles; such as beverage bottles and the like; may be packed in ice and conveniently transported to a picnic'areaor other place not having readily, available facilities for cooling the bottles.

There are, of course,currently-available nu- "merous types of insulated containers, usually metallic, in which iced bottles may be carried,

but these containers arerelatively expensive and hence uneconomical for the average-person who has occasion to use'such'a container only a few times during the-course of a year. Consequently,

,it is a primary object of-our invention to provide an inexpensive paperboard container-in which iced bottles maybe carried, the container being such that it may bereused several times, if desired, or discarded after its initial usewithout any appreciable loss to the user.

It is another object' of our invention'td-provide a carrier of the character=descriloed which can be manufactured of; paperboard --arid-=assembled from out andscored blanks. Thus/the construction" is one which'can be shipped to the user in knocked-down form and erectd by'him simply by erecting the knocked downcontainer parts.

Another object of ourinvention is the'provision of a bottle carrier of the class' described comprising an outer container part i including carrying handles and a separate inner container part for receiving the bottles and ice, the inner container partbeing water-proofed.

Another object of our invention is the provision of a carrier comprising two parts, the container parts each including integral'means adapted to maintain the parts, when assembled one inside the other, in spaced relationship so-as to provide an insulating air space therebetween.

Yet another object of our invention is the provision of a two part container in which'depressible handles are provided in the outer part, the handle members being depressible, 'there being flap members arranged between the-container parts providing openings into'whi'ch the handles may be depressed, the: saidilap membersalso being the means for maintaining the .parts in spaced relationship and serving to prevent accidental entanglement of the depressed handles with any object placed in the container, whether it'be the inner container part-or contentszcarried in the'outer containershould the 'structurelbe used without-"its. inner part.

2 Theseas well as other objects which willappear hereinafterorwillbe apparent to one-skilled in the art upon'rea'ding these specifications,-- we accomplish by thatconstructionand arrangement of parts of which we shall now describe I anexemplary embodiment.

' Reference is made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of our cooling container.

Figure 2 is a View similar to Figure l but-showing the container with both inner and outer parts with their-covers orlids opened and-the handle members in the outer partin depressed condition.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the outerpart of the container only, the closure members being in open position.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the inner part of the container with the cover flaps in opened position and one of the outfolded, side wall flaps torn away to illustrate the :manner in which the bellows-folding cornerconnecting webs are interlocked.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the blank" from which the inner part of the container isiormed.

Figure'fi is a perspective View of the inner pa'rt of the container in-anintermediate stage of its erection.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along the line of Figure 6.

Figure 8-is'a plan view of the blank from which the outer part of the container is formed.

Figure-Q-is an elevational'view of the outer part of the container, with parts broken -away and othersvshown by dotted lines.

Figure-lo' isasectional view taken along the line lll lll of Figure-9.

, line l4-l4 of Figure 13.

oBriefiy, .in l the; practice ;of our invention, we provide. a carrier made; up of, an; inner. container .part andv an 'outercontainer part the inner, part "comprising a bottom, sidegand end walls,- and cover'members articulated to theupperends of the end walls and adapted to fold. inwardly to cover the top of:the:containerg partzrso formed.

Theiinner container partisg-preferablyformed from a single cut and scored blank, the side and end walls of which are connected together by bellows folding corner portions extending the full heights of the side and end walls, thereby providing a receptacle the body of which is free from seams or other free edges throughout its depth. The body of the inner container part is therefore completely tight and when rendered waterproof on its inner surfaces, as by a coating of wax or other proofing substance or by having a waterproof layer laminated thereto, the inner container is rendered watertight and hence capable of holding ice and water formed as the ice melts. Thus, the bottles to be carried are placed in the inner container whereupon ice is packed around them, as will be readily understood.

Since the weight load which must be borne by the inner container is considerable, it is preferable to provide an outer container part having attached handle members for transporting the iced bottles. Not only is the outer container necessary for the necessary strength requirements, but in addition it provides an insulating medium; and by arranging the container parts so that they are suitably spaced apart, an air space is provided between the inner and outer parts which further aids in insulating the structure. The outer container part is also formed from a single blank, but it need not be a seamless or tight blank since it is not necessary that the outer container part be waterproof. Preferably, the outer container part has cover members responding in position substantially to those of the inner part thus providing for ready access to the iced bottles contained therein. Wire handle members are provided for carrying the structure and these may be made depressible so that they will not project when not in use, as

when the container is placed in the trunk of a car or the like, orif it is desired to place other packages or articles on top of the container.

A salient advantage of the carrier is that it is inexpensive and hence expendable should the user not wish to be bothered taking it home tainer containing, for example, twelve bottles,

of soft-drinks, beer, or the like being sold iced condition by the retailer, such as an ice house, pony keg station or other outlets having facilities for icing the containers. Since the carrier is inexpensive, it does not add a great deal to the cost of the beverages themselves, and in addition to its convenience and utility, it also affords the beverage manufacturer ample opportunity to advertise his products on the walls of the carrier. The carrier can also be used as an inducement to purchase the manufacturers product in quantity.

For a detailed description of our invention, reference is now made to Figure 5 of the drawings wherein we have illustrated a blank for forming the inner part of our container. The blank comprises a bottom panel I having articulated thereto side wall panels 2 and 3 and end wall panels 4 and 5. The ends of the side and end wall panels are joined together by means of substantially rectangular bellows-folding corner members 6, l, 8 and 9 which fold along the diagonal score lines H), H, I2 and I3 respectively. The outer free corner of each of the bellowsfolding members is cut away so as to provide interlocking eleemnts l4, I5, I6 and I1, respecor the like on its inner surface.

4 tively. The interlocking elements are so ar-- ranged that they form interlocking pairs, the element l4 being adapted to interlock with the element I! and the element 15 to interlock with the element l6, as will be explained more fully hereinafter.

The blank for the inner container part also includes side flanges l8 and I9 articulated to the free edges of the side wall panels 2 and 3, and cover members 20 and 2| articulated to the ends of the end wall panels, the cover members 20 and 2| having side flanges 22, 23, and 24, 25 respectively.

The inner container is erected in the manner illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings, the side and end wall members being folded upwardly relative to the bottom panel with the bellows folding corner members folded outwardly along their diagonal score lines. As will be evident from Figure 6, the bellows-folding corner members are folded so as to overlie the side wall panels. Thus, the bellows-folding corner members I and 8 overlie side wall panel 3 and bellowsfolding corner members 6 and 9 overlie side wall panel 2. The proportioning of the parts is such that when the bellows-folding members I and 8 are folded along the side wall panels 3, the interlocking elements l5 and It may be interengaged so as to lock the bellows-folding members together in the manner illustrated in Figure 4. The side flanges I8 and it are provided to hold the bellows-folding corner members in interlocking engagement. After the interlocking elements have been engaged, the side flange members 18 and I9 are folded outwardly and downwardly and overlie the bellows-folding members throughout substantially their full length, thereby preventing them from becoming disengaged. To become disengaged, one of the bellows-folding members, such as the member 8 must be moved upwardly with respect to the bellows-folding movement member I, and such movement is prevented in the completely erected container by the side flange l9. Also, as will be pointed out more fully hereinafter, the side flanges serve as spacing members between the inner and outer container parts.

The inner container part, as already indicated, must be waterproofed so that it will be leakproof and retain the water created as the ice melts. To this end the blank for the inner container part may be treated to render it waterproof in any of the many known ways, preferably by a coating of waterproofing substance such as wax In place of a coating of waterproof material, the inner surface of the blank may have laminated thereto a film or foil which in itself is waterproof. While a surface coating of waterproofing substance is generally sufficient, it is also within the spirit of our invention to completely impregnate the board of the inner container part with the proofing substance in which instance the inner container part will withstand greater abuse and forestall the possibility of a sharp piece of ice cutting through an interior coating and destroying the proofness of the container.

Referring now to Figure 8, we have illustrated a blank suitable for forming the outer container part of the carrier. The blank comprises an end wall 26, a side wall 21, an end wall 28 and a side wall 29 in articulation in the order named, the end wall 26 carrying a glue flap 36. The end walls 26 and 28 have cover members 3! and 32 articulated to their respective upper edges, the

coter member'3 l hav eeyeseg'oss g sside flanges 33-1andir 34 tings 46 and-' 41 lyingttlong' the 'line :of articulation 'betwe'en the'extensiorr portions 31a and the side *wall 2 I l and the extensiomalso =has a:spaced' pair of mating openings 48 and w lyingalong-the line of=articulation -l3%b'etween the extension :portions 13 31b and 310. In the same-manner; the extension 38--is provided-with openings- 50 and-' 5 lca'long the 7 line of articulation'between the extension portion 38a and theside wa1l '29, and a. matingrpair of openings 52 -arid 53; 'lyingialOngL-the line" of articu- 3 lation-M between*eXtension portions wbiandttc. The bottom closure forthe outer container part is constructedin -accofdance with the teachings of- Ringler patentf' Noi- 2,492,712. issued December 27; 1949' and entitledTubular 'ca'rton With-Strong End Closures.

The: bottom' closure comprises a 'xclosurefiap dl articulated to the bottom edge of 'the side -wall panel? 21, the closure 'fiapl being, in general dimensions, :of a size substantially t to cover the entire bottom of the container but the =f-ree-edge of the flap is cut-backas shown to .pro- 'Vide the tab 55 'at' its mid section. Thezside edges of-flap fl are articulated-to 'Websi55and 5'! which are also articulated to the ends 'of' the end-wa1ls 26 and 28 lying on-each side of a' side "-wall 21. "-The -'-webs are provided with diagonal score lines 58'and 59. 'Ihe side-wall w is proi vided with an-'-ar'ticulated closure flap: GBJWhich is free of attachment to-.the'

'- 60 is provided-witha line err-cut: forming slit 13% of shallow U-shaped configuration, :demarking tabZ GZ; and the ends of the with the side edges of thefiapiefi' by score line slit are connected 63. The position of the-score line is suchthat in the closed-"container itwillliesubstantially along a prolongation of the base of tab 55.-

"it additionalcharacteristics an'd u-tility. For ex- A ample; the-cover members 3d and 3z may be pro videdwi'th recesses -64--and 65 to facilitate their being opened. "Furthermore,

the coverv member 3l, which isthe first folded member, may be providedwith the irregular slitdbfi and B'Ladapted -to receive 'a bottle opener "for use I in opening bottles carried inthe container. The outer containerpart is assemblediby first tubing the side and end "-wall members; the.

glue iiap' 3i! being secured to the-'free end-of--side"-wa1l 29:by any -=suitable means-such as the staples fi8 shown in "Figures 9 and 10. Adhesive .:or. other suitable fastening 1 means could ibe usedxifsso desired. After the blank has been tubed, .the'tubeis .expande'd and the -bottom closure effected in: the

manner illustrated-in Figures '9, 10 and? 11.. of: the

=drawings, the closure "flaps 54 and fiflextending across the opefi-bottom-endof the container with the webs Stand 51- innermost and the -tab- 55 in are next iii-folded 1therportion .380; reversely folded with. respect: to

portion138b and lying along the innersurface of side "wallliw. This arrangement bringszt-he --.openings 52 and 53 intoalignm'ent with the;openings 50 .andz5l andaalso'provides an opening 11 between the portions 38b. and 380 into which the rhand-leelement lfl is inserted, the leg portions of the handle being passed through theopenings i 50'53and engaged therebeneath in themanner illustrated in Figure 9. =Asrwill be evident, the handles may be :depressed until their bail .por-

tions rest on the top. edges of the side Walls (see Figure 3) or they may be extendedin the-manner illustrated in Figure 1 forcarrying purposes.

' Theextension portions 38a and 38b also serve as spacers to maintain the inner containergpart spaced from the outer container part and prevent any possible entanglement between the -handle element and theinner container part. While we have describedin detail the mannerin whiehthe portions of. the, extension 38are folded, it will'be understood that the parts of. extension 31 are folded in likemanner, and the handle ele ment. 69 inserted throughthe openings 46-49.

.The individual container parts having been thus assembledand appearing as illustrated in Figures 3 and' lrespectively, the inner container part is inserted'in the outer. container part, it being understood, of course, that the parts are so proportioned thatrone will fit nicely within the other. and yet be spaced apart so as toprovide an insulating air space between theiinner and-outer container parts. In Figure 2, the inner container part is shown fitted in the outer container. part, the cover members of bothsparts being opened as 50 they would be when the carrier is being packed :withbottles: and ice; and:in?Figure l-athe carrier is seen with .theicover members closed and the handle elements incarrying position. .As can be seen in Figure l, the outer cover members 32 and 33 are oia size so asto. overlap slightly in the closed, position, the cover members32 overlying the end of the cover member 33. A conventional metal. bottle opener E8 may then be fitted in the slits 56'. and 6! of the cover member 33, the 60 end of the bottle opener overlying the cover member 32. so as to hold it in the closed position.

Referring to Figures 13 and 14: we have illustrated in'cross section and exaggerated condition the" nrmnner. in which the inner and outer con- 5 tainer parts 'fitttogether in the assembled and closedcarrier. In particular, it will be noted that the side walls of the inner container part .are spaced from the outercontainer part by the thickness of the various flanges, extension, por- ;.tionsr andbellowsefolding parts, thereby providing space forthecirculation of air betweenthe inner and outer container:.parts. Likewise, the "web members making up parts of the bottom closure for .the outer containerpart also serve to ;:space1the bottom 10f i the inner containerg part from the bottom of the outer part sufficiently to permit circulation of air therebetween. Likewise, by providing an inner container part slightly shorter in length than the outer container part, adequate air space will be provided between the end walls of the respective parts. The downturned flanges I 9 and 20 and the extension portions 31a and 38a also provide smooth surfaces between which the cover flanges may be inserted.

As already indicated, the carrier is strong enough to bear the weight of a full load of bottles and. the ice packed around them, and the inner container part when properly waterproofed is capable of remaining watertight from one to three days. If not abused it may be reused several times without losing its watertightness.

Modifications may be made in our invention Without departing from the spirit of it. Having thus described our invention in an exemplary embodiment, what we desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination in a paperboard carrier in which the articles being carried may be packed in ice, an inner container part and an outer container part, both of paperboard and each formed from a single paperboard blank, said inner container part comprising a bottom, side and end walls, corner connecting webs between the side and end walls and coextensive therewith, and cover members articulated to the top edges of said end walls, said inner container part being treated as to its inner surfaces at least with a waterproofing substance, said outer container part comprising a bottom, side and end walls, and cover members corresponding in position to the cover members of said inner container part, said inner container part being dimensioned so as to fit within said outer container part in spaced relation thereto, the corner connecting webs of said inner container part being folded to lie along the side walls of said inner container part, and flanges articulated to the top edges of said last mentioned side walls, said flanges being folded outwardly and downwardly over the upper portions at least of said corner connecting webs to hold them in folded condition, extensions articulated to the top edges of the side walls of said outer container part, said extensions being folded inwardly to form abutments for contact with the flanges on said inner container part, whereby to space apart said inner and outer container parts to provide for the circulation of air therebetween.

2. In combination in a paperboard carrier in which the articles being carried may be packed in ice, an inner container part and an outer container part, both of paperboard and each formed from a single paperboard blank, said inner container part comprising a bottom, side and end walls, corner connecting webs between the side and end walls and coextensive therewith, and cover members articulated to the top edges of said end walls, said inner container part being treated as to its inner surfaces at least with a waterproofing substance, said outer container part comprising a bottom, side and end walls, and cover members corresponding in position to the cover members of said inner container part, said inner container part being dimensioned so as to fit within said outer container part in spaced relation thereto, the corner connecting webs of said inner container part being folded to lie along the side walls of said inner container part, and flanges articulated to the top edges of said last mentioned side walls, said flanges being folded outwardly and downwardly over the upper portions at least of said corner connecting webs to hold them in folded condition, extensions articulated to the top edges of the side walls of said outer container part, said extensions being folded inwardly to form abutments for contact with the flanges on said inner container part, whereby to space apart said inner and outer container parts to provide for the circulation of air therebetween and handle elements comprising wire bails having inturned legs associated with said outer container part, said legs passing through openings in the top edges of the side walls of the outer container part, said handle elements being depressible downwardly between the inner surfaces of said last mentioned side walls and the said infolded extensions.

3. In combination in a paperboard carrier in which the articles being carried may be packed in ice, an inner container part and an outer container part, both of paperboard and each formed from a single paperboard blank, said inner container part comprising a bottom, side and end walls, corner connecting webs between the side and end walls and coextensive therewith, and cover members articulated to the top edges of said end walls, said inner container part being treated as to its inner surfaces at least with a waterproofing substance, said outer container part comprising a bottom, side and end walls, and cover members corresponding in position to the cover members of said inner container part, said inner container part being dimensioned so as to fit within said outer container part in spaced relation thereto, the corner connecting webs of said inner container part having interlocks on their free ends, said corner connecting webs being folded to lie along said last mentioned side walls with said interlocks in engagement, flanges articulated to the top edges of said last mentioned side walls, said flanges being folded outwardly and downwardly over said interlocks to prevent their accidental disengagement, extensions articulated, to the upper edges of the side walls of said outer container part, said extensions being divided into three portions each, namely, an inner portion'folded inwardly and downwardly with respect to the side walls to which said extension is articulated, an intermediate'portion reversely folded with respect to said inner portion and lying between said inner portion and the adjacent side wall, and an outer portion reversely folded with respect to said intermediate portionand lying along the inner surface of said adjacent side wall, there being openings along the edges between the side walls and the inner portions of said extensions and mating openings along the edges between the intermediate portions of said extensions and the outer portions thereof, and handle elements having legs passing through said openings, said handle elements being depressible between said intermediate and said outer extension portions.

4. In combination in a paperboard carrier in which the articles being carried may be packed in ice, an inner container part and an outer container part, both of paperboard and each formed from a single paperboard blank, said inner container part comprising a bottom, side and end walls, corner connecting webs extending between the side and end walls and coextensive therewith, out-turned flanges articulated to the top edges of said side walls, and cover members articulated to the top edges of said end Walls, said inner container part being treated with a waterproofing material, said outer container part comprising a bottom, side and end walls, inturned flanges articulated to the top edges of said last mentioned side walls, and cover members articu-' lated to the top edges of said last mentioned end walls, said inner container part fitted within said outer container part with the out-turned flanges of said inner container part in face-to-face contact with the inturned flanges of said outer container part, whereby to space said inner container parts inwardly from said outer container parts.

5. The structure claimed in claim 4 wherein said outer container part is provided with handle elements extending between the side walls of said outer container parts and the inturned flanges thereof.

6. In combination for the purposes described, an inner container part and an outer container part, said inner container part comprising a bottom, side and end walls, corner connecting webs extending between the side and end walls, flanges articulated to the top edges of said side walls, and cover members articulated to the top edges of said end walls, said cover members having flanges articulated to the opposite side edges thereof, said outer container part comprising a bottom, side and end walls, extensions articulated to the top edges of said last mentioned side walls, and cover members articulated to the top edges of said last mentioned end walls, said last mentioned cover members having flanges articulated to the opposite side edges thereof, said inner container part being fitted within said outer container part with the flanges articulated to the side walls of the said inner container part folded outwardly and downwardly so as to lie between the side walls of saidvinner container part and the side walls of said outer container 10 part, the extensions articulated to the side walls of said outer container part being folded inwardly and downwardly to lie between said outer side walls and said flanges, said cover elements being folded to overlie said respective container parts with said cover flanges folded to lie between said inner side wall fianges and said outer side wall extensions.

7. The structure claimed in claim 6 wherein said cover elements are adapted to overlap each other centrally of said containers, and wherein one of said outer coverelements has spaced slits therein defining a strap adapted to receive a bottle opener, said slits being so positioned that the bottle opener when received by said strap will overlie the other of said outer cover elements to thereby hold it in the closed position.

8. The structure claimed in claim 7 including handle elements comprising wire bails having inturned legs associated with said outer container part, said legs passing through openings in the top edges of said outer side walls, said handle elements being depressible downwardly between the inner surfaces of said last mentioned side walls and the said infolded extensions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,163,209 Burt Dec. 7, 1915 1,383,173 Throop June 28, 1921 1,755,690 Heim Apr. 22, 1930 1,985,111 Shofer Dec. 18, 1934 2,179,555 Kells Nov. 14, 1939 2,326,281 Becker Aug. 10, 1943 2,354,401 Pemberton July 25, 1944 2,492,712 Ringler Dec. 27, 1949 2,518,818 Ringler Aug. 15, 1950 

